Speed Saunders' Mammoth Mystery: HELLO

While searching the tent of Joe Samson the Circus Strongman, Speed says, "HELLO--what's this?"  I just love it when detectives say "HELLO--what's this?"  I always imagine them saying it just like William Dozier.

 

Well, it appears to be an Acme Do-It-Yourself Inflatable Clown Kit, Speed, but I'm not sure what it looks like to you.

Speed has found something you would NEVER IMAGINE an innocent circus person to own: a wig and false mustache.  They reek of deceit and spirit gum.  The props, I mean, not the circus folk, although I suppose it applies.  

I can only assume that since this is September 1939, that author Fred Guardineer lifted this plot point from Agatha Christie's "Hercule Poirot's Christmas", which was published in the U.S. in February 1939.  See, Speed, I can make unwarranted leaps of deduction, too!

"Bushland Bill's Hair and Mustache!" is now my new signature exclamation.

I have no idea how Speed can recognize these objects as "Bushland Bill's Hair and Mustache!" I guess staring at corpses can pay off in the end.  As for the rouge, I guess BB had a ruddy complexion (being an Explorer, you know, especially one who can't drive and must walk across the Serengeti  during his adventuring).   Anyway, this confirms Speed's suspicion that Joe Samson The Circus Strongman wore Bushland Bill's Hair and Mustache(!) while teasing Jumbo, in order to train Jumbo to attack Bushland Bill (or at least to attack Bushland Bill's Hair and Mustache[!], with Bushland Bill bearing the brunt of the damage).

Do tiny telegram messengers just... wander about traveling circuses looking for recipients, as if it were a fixed location?  The past is a foreign country, especially when Speed Saunders is living there.

The postal telegram confirms Speed's suspicions, because how could it dare to do otherwise?

Not every circus roundabout is sufficiently secure in his masculinity to sport apricot nail polish, but Speed is no ordinary man. 

Hm. Tusks is plural.  So there were at least two stolen. "Last July", however long ago that was. Oh, not for nothing, you'll notice that in his original telegram Speed referred to himself as "Inspector Saunders", but the reply addresses him as "Detective Saunders".  You see why he eventually just evolves in "Speed Saunders", which is all the title he needs to exercise authority.

Thanks for withholding essential information like the name of the circus until it was absolutely necessary, Speed. Wouldn't want to confuse your readers.

Bingling Bros.? Honestly, you'd think trademark infringement would be their main concern, not murder.

You know what might have been more detective-like, Speed? Noticing those scratches during all your hours cleaning that elephant.

Now Speed goes to the tent of Elkins The Animal Man, because he is full snooping mode, convinced he can wrap this case up before the evening show.

Elkins' thinking: "Well, these mammoth tusks--and the wire used to affix them to Jumbo's own tusks--have served their purpose now. So I guess I will:
dispose of one of these rare and valuable pre-historic items in an unspecified way;
leave the other stuck in Bushland Bill's corpse, hoping the police won't notice it; but
definitely keep the WIRE, because, gosh, that stuff is just so darned HANDY it would be a shame to waste it merely to avoid a murder conviction."

Speed has a rare moment of self-realization that all his victories may well be unearned.

"The evidence is all ready for court." Dream on, Speed. Harvey Dent couldn't make that case stick even if he used the wire to attach it.

Well, Speed seems to think the case is all wrapped up... with a full page still to go! Tomorrow, we'll enjoy a full page of Speed just kicking back and relaxing, perhaps driving slowly the 12 miles back to town while taking in the countryside.

Perhaps.

Tomorrow: Perhaps NOT!